PP Sightings Visiting Birder

I just got another email from visiting birder Steve, who saw the winter wren again this morning:

"It was in the scrub on the north side of the creek, between the Music Grove Bridge and the Music Pagoda."

He also reported yesterday on the lake:

1 Belted Kingfisher (female)
2 Brant
1 Double-crested Cormorant
2 Ring-necked Ducks (males)
1 Wood Duck
2 Pied-billed Grebes
1 Red-tailed Hawk

 Thanks for the reports!

Visting Birder Sightings

A visiting birder from England contacted me today with two notable Prospect Park Sightings...March 8th he had 15 Brant, and today, March 9, he had a Winter Wren near the bridge next to the Audobon Center. 
Good luck if you go!

Scott Whittle
www.yearfofthebird.com

Quacker Quest Report

I led the 2009 Quacker Quest in Kings County today.  Six of us birded Prospect Park, Gravesend Bay, Drier Offerman, Marine Park, Floyd Bennet Field, and finally Jamaica Bay.  We had a total of 71 species...highlights were 2 Purple Finches, 2 Green Winged Teal, 8 Wood Ducks and a Merlin at Prospect Park, 9 Purple Sandpipers, a Great Cormorant and 2 Red-Necked Grebes at Gravesends Bay, a Redhead and 3 Greater Yellowlegs at Marine Park, and a single Northern Pintail at Jamaica Bay.  We missed the Barrows and Ross's at Jamaica, and the Killdeer I'd seen yesterday at Drier, but we enjoyed the great weather and the great birding in Brooklyn!

Species List:

 Snow Goose     X
Brant     X
Canada Goose     X
Mute Swan     X
Wood Duck     8
Gadwall     X
American Wigeon     X
American Black Duck     X
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid)     X
Mallard     X
Northern Shoveler     X
Northern Pintail     1
Green-winged Teal (American)     16
Redhead     1
Ring-necked Duck     8
Greater Scaup     400
Lesser Scaup     30
Bufflehead     X
Common Goldeneye     25
Hooded Merganser     X
Red-breasted Merganser     X
Ruddy Duck     X
Red-throated Loon     X
Common Loon     X
Pied-billed Grebe     2
Horned Grebe     X
Red-necked Grebe     2
Double-crested Cormorant     X
Great Cormorant     3
Great Blue Heron     X
Northern Harrier     X
Cooper's Hawk     X
Red-tailed Hawk     X
Merlin     X
American Coot     X
Greater Yellowlegs     3
Purple Sandpiper     9
Ring-billed Gull     X
Herring Gull     X
Great Black-backed Gull     X
Rock Pigeon     X
Mourning Dove     X
Red-bellied Woodpecker     X
Downy Woodpecker     X
Northern Flicker     X
Blue Jay     X
American Crow     X
crow sp.     X
Black-capped Chickadee     X
Tufted Titmouse     X
Red-breasted Nuthatch     X
White-breasted Nuthatch     X
Brown Creeper     X
Carolina Wren     X
American Robin     X
Northern Mockingbird     X
European Starling     X
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)     X
Eastern Towhee     2
Fox Sparrow     X
Song Sparrow     X
Swamp Sparrow     X
White-throated Sparrow     X
Dark-eyed Junco     X
Northern Cardinal     X
Red-winged Blackbird     X
Common Grackle     X
Boat-tailed Grackle     X
Brown-headed Cowbird     X
Purple Finch     X
House Finch     X
American Goldfinch     X
House Sparrow     X

saturday sightings 3/7

from alex wilson:

Begin forwarded message: >
Location: Prospect Park >
Observation date: 3/7/09 >
Number of species: 48 > >

Canada Goose X >
Mute Swan X >
Wood Duck 10 (At least 10, several flyover sightings, with > 4 briefly on the Upper Pool. Groups of 8 and 2 seen in quick > succession; maybe as many as 18 all told.) >


American Black Duck X >
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1 > Mallard X >
Northern Shoveler X >
Ring-necked Duck 8 (3 drakes, Upper Pool; 2 drakes, Lake; > hen & 2 drakes upper Lullwater pool.) >
Bufflehead 1 >
Hooded Merganser 5 (Pair, upper Lullwater; hen with 2 > drakes, one displaying, Lake.) >
Red-breasted Merganser 1 (Continues, upper Lullwater.) >
Ruddy Duck X > Great Blue Heron 1 >
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (Immature, Maryland Monument flyby.) >
Red-tailed Hawk X >
Peregrine Falcon 1 (On signal tower at east corner of park/> BBG.) >

American Coot X >
Ring-billed Gull X >
Herring Gull X > Great Black-backed Gull X >
Rock Pigeon X >
Mourning Dove X >
Red-bellied Woodpecker X >
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3 >
Downy Woodpecker X >
Hairy Woodpecker X >
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 3 >
Blue Jay X >
Black-capped Chickadee X >
Tufted Titmouse X >
White-breasted Nuthatch X >
Carolina Wren X >
American Robin X >
Northern Mockingbird X > European Starling X >
Eastern Towhee 1 (Male, on
path above Terrace Bridge, east > side.) >
Fox Sparrow (Red) X (Singing near cemetery; a dead bird > near the feeders.) >
Song Sparrow X >
Swamp Sparrow 1 >
White-throated Sparrow X >
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) X (Including a couple > singing.) >
Northern Cardinal X >
Red-winged Blackbird X >
Common Grackle X >
Purple Finch 3 (2 males, 1 female, Breeze Hill feeders.) >
House Finch X >
American Goldfinch X >
House Sparrow X

******************************
From Rafael Campos


07 March 2009:With a nice warm morning, the walk thru PP was spectacular. Most of the snow has melted, and the spirit of Spring is around the corner.Several flocks of Common Grackles flew over the park, and the feeders were quite active, with at least 1 Fox Sparrow, lots of WT Sparrows, but not E Towhee (saw the male yesterday).A large flock of Red-winged Blackbirds were perched near the Terrace Bridge, and the big surprise was to see 2 females Brown-headed Cowbirds among them.Here is the list for today:

Canada Goose
Mute Swan
American Black Duck (upper pool)
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Ring-necked Duck (lake, upper pool, & lullwater)
Hooded Merganser (lullwater & lake)
Ruddy Duck
Great Blue Heron (1 upper pool)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1 catching a thermal over Lookout Hill)
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull(American)
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird (2 female, terrace bridge)
Purple Finch (1 pair, feeders)
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow


Brooklyn is good birding: Rafa Campos R

Note addendum :Rafael also reported 4 Monk Parakeets on 7th and Park Place today

*****************************************
From Rob Bate:
On Saturday- Golden-crowned Kinglet by bridge just upstream of the music pagoda. Pine Siskin at the feeders.

Taking a sunny vacation in sunshine

Birders and readers ,

I will be away starting tonight till next Thursday, birding for my first time in Florida. Hopefully, I will try to post any Brooklyn reports from my birding friends computer down south.

Scott W. has access to this blog, so anything really rare, text me at my cell 347-622-3559 and I'll forward to him. ( otherwise, post to Phil Jeffrey's Ebirds Yahoo Groups if you are a registered user)

Cheers,

Peter

March 5th sightings inc LBBG and AMWO

LBBG = Lesser Black-backed Gull
AMWO-= American Woodcock

From the NYS Listerve, Debra Amos report Brooklyn Botanic Garden

I walked this afternoon around 2 o'clock through the western part of the conifer collection (across the Bluebell field, at the pond). Suddenly a woodcock flew up out of the ivy covered ground. It landed a few yard on the ground again and walked about. I had the privilege to study all the features of this beautiful bird in the perfect sunlight with it's cooperation to sit still from time to time. It's a great find here in the garden. I hope it will be here for a while.
Debora Amos

(Kingboiders note: I believe this area for the AMWO is 1/2 way between the Cherry Esplanade and Daffodil Hill. the Japanese Garden is above this slope )

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Rob Jett Texted messaged me this afternoon of a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on Prospect Lake. I was fortunate to see the gull thru Rob's scope since it was tough picking out the gull with bins and at that distance ( with bright sunlight from the side and with therare gull obscured partially by other common gulls. Nevertheless, it was visible at times. A Red tailed Hawk flew over and flushed all the gulls, losing us the opportunity to see the gull much longer.

********************************

From Rob Bate:
(Prospect)

Saw a Yellow-rumped warbler by the pool above the music pagoda. I haven't seen any mentions in the park this season. Also saw a female Cardinal singing, don't know how rare that is.Hope all's well.Rob

PP sightings 3/3/09 Scott Whittle

Cold today, with some freezing over on the lake. Gull numbers were down, and the ice forced the ruddy ducks and a single bufflehead into close proximity with the mallards in the duck feeding area. Feeders were active with 3 purple finches (1 female and 2 males) and a Red Breasted Nuthatch visiting regularly. Haven't seen the pine siskin here in a few days, despite extensive time at the feeders (another birder did report that it was there earlier yesterday). There has been a sharpie lurking there. Also had a FOY woodcock on the side of lookout hill between lamppost 249 and wellhouse.

Canada Goose 150
Mute Swan 2
American Black Duck 2
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Ring-necked Duck 4
Bufflehead 1
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Ruddy Duck X
Red-tailed Hawk 3
American Coot 12
American Woodcock 1
Ring-billed Gull 300
Herring Gull 9
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 35
Mourning Dove X
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker 5
Blue Jay 6
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 1
American Robin 12
Eastern Towhee 1
Fox Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 40
Dark-eyed Junco X
Northern Cardinal 10
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Purple Finch 3
House Finch 8
American Goldfinch 15
House Sparrow 15

**********************************

Peter's brief 3/4 sightings:

This morning while driving by Nellies Lawn, a pretty sight seeing two adult Red-tailed Hawks perched in Elizabeth's Tulip, at the north edge marking the Vale of Cashmere entry. One park crew stopped their truck to take photos. It was a great shot both hawks only 5 feet apart on a dead limb.

ON the lake, the continuing drake Red-breasted Merganser made the best of it in the mostly frozen lake, in the open water between the Peninsula thumb and southern lake mainland .The usual suspects of ruddies, 45 shovelers near the rink, several Black duck, about 14 Coots with many gulls ( ring billed, some Herring and one Greater Black-backed)

March 3rd

Spotted perched in a tree above the Center Drive at the path coming down from Falkill Falls: Merlin..Center Drive- lots of activity mostly Cardinals , White throated and Fox (2) sparrows feeding along roadside.

Peter

March 2nd sightings (+ Feb 28th reports)

From Peter:

Location: Prospect Park
Observation date: 3/2/09
Number of species: 28


Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
American Black Duck 3
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler 35 Duck islands
Ring-necked Duck 2 drake upper pool
Bufflehead 1 Duck Island
Common Merganser 3 drakes Lake
Ruddy Duck 60 scattered Lake
American Coot 7 Lake
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Downy Woodpecker X feeders
Black-capped Chickadee X feeders
European Starling X
Eastern Towhee 1 male feeders
Fox Sparrow (Red) 2 feeders
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 20 + feeders
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 3 Center Dr
Northern Cardinal X
Red-winged Blackbird 5 Feeders
House Finch X feeders
American Goldfinch 6 feeders
Cooopers Hawk Flew in and perched in Duck Island
Great Blue Heron first Duck isl ,then Peninsula shore

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

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From Rob Jett:

Subject: eBird Report - Prospect Park , 2/28/09>>>>
Location: Prospect Park>
Observation date: 2/28/09>
Number of species: 20>>

Red-tailed Hawk 2>
Merlin 1>
Ring-billed Gull X>
Herring Gull X>
Rock Pigeon X>
Mourning Dove 20>
Red-bellied Woodpecker X>
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1>
Downy Woodpecker 1>
Hairy Woodpecker 1>
Blue Jay X>
Black-capped Chickadee X>
Tufted Titmouse X>
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1>
White-breasted Nuthatch X>
American Robin X>
European Starling X>
Song Sparrow X>
White-throated Sparrow X>
Northern Cardinal X>>

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)

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Greenwood Cemetery ; Peter,Mary and Donna

Location: Greenwood Cemetery
Observation date: 2/28/09
Number of species: 19

Snow Goose 3
Canada Goose 55
American Wigeon 2
American Black Duck 1
Mallard X
Ring-necked Duck 1
Bufflehead 2
Ruddy Duck X
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Rock Pigeon X
Mourning Dove X
Monk Parakeet
Blue Jay X
Black-capped Chickadee XTufted Titmouse X
European Starling X
White-throated Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal X
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)

***************************

From Ben Bohen:

Just wanted to report that on Saturday 2/28 there was a flock of Brants on the lake (Prospect).

March 1st sightings; before the roar

I didn't have much time birding today but i was able to view with admiration the resident Peregrine Falcon's kingly abode. I had to meet with Paul, Heidi , and Rick to discuss issues on better protocols on the Xmas count for next time. While meeting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden basement cafe, Paul saw thru the window the Peregrine Falcon perched at its frequent perch atop the radio signal tower adjacent to the garden's library. After our meeting finished, i went out to see if the falcon was there and I didn't see it. But after a short tour of the garden, i happened to see it just before I exited the garden, on a different perch! it was on the rooftop of the Ebberts Field housing complex, where the old Brooklyn Dodger stadium use to be.I figure that all along: the falcon "bleeds blue!"

Heidi reported that the Binnen Bridge area or Lily Pool was quite active today with lots of Robins,3 Hairy Woodpeckers..One particular small tree held 5 Blue Jays ( a nice sighting)

The snow comes........................

Peter

*********************************

From Eve reporting for Paul Keim's First Sunday 10 am walk (monthly) from the Audubon Center:

Hi Heidi, Michele & Peter-

Paul led the walk this morning .Vin & I reconstructed the list.

Cooper's hawk
Sharp-Shinned hawk (flyover lookout hill)
Red tailed hawk mature and 2 immature
Merlin (male center drive at top of Nethermead)
Red breasted merganser - lullwater male
Bufflehead ducks males upper pool 3+
Shovelers 10+ lake
Ring-necked Duck 4 lullwater & upper pool
Ruddy Ducks 10+ lake
Coots 10+ lullwater
Mallards
Canadian Geese
Mute Swans 2
Gulls- at lake
Herring
Ringbilled
Great Black backed
Pidgeons
House sparrow
Starlings
Robins Binnen bridge 10+
Feeder:
Rock Doves 10+
Red bellied woodpecker 1
Downy woodpecker 2
Eastern Towhee male 1
Fox sparrow 1
White throated sparrow 5+
Purple finch m/f
Goldfinch 10+
Chickadee 5+
Junco 3
White breasted nuthatch 1
Cardinal male & female 3
Blue Jays
Red winged Black birds 5+ m/f
Tufted titmouse 3
Carolina wren (heard only)

Yesterday on Michele's Saturday walk we also had
3 Pine Siskin at the feeders
1 Flicker Nelly's lawn